Billfold adapted to receive a removable pass case



Dec. 26, 1950 D. J. BROUGHTON BILLFOLD ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A REMOVABLEPASS CASE Filed Aug. 17, 1949 INVENTOR Dot/qua Jflkouwrrwv BY 1r WORN YsPatented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BILIZFOIJD ADAPTED TORECEIVE A REMOVABLE PASS CASE Douglas J. Broughton, Springfield, Mass,as-

signor to Buxton, Incorporated, Springfield, Mass, a corporation ofMassachusetts Application August 17, 1949, Serial No. 110,729

l'Claim. 1

This invention relates to an improvement in billfolds of the type havinga flat tubular loop at one end portion for the reception of a removable.apass case or the like.

More particularly it relates to an improved intermediate or bridgingwall construction for bi-llfolds of the above type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an intermediate orbridging wall structure which will operate freely even when a pass case,fully loaded, is incorporated with the billfold.

A further object is to provide a construction which, while achieving thefirst-mentioned advantages provides a free operation of the loop in itspass case carrying function.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is an unfolded view of a billfold embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the bridging element;

Fig. 3 is a view of the complete billfold in open position; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the front wall members cutaway.

Referring to the drawings, I generally indicates a blank from which themain body of the billfold is folded up. Blank I includes a rear wallmember 2, panel members 3 and 4 which extend from a bottom edge of theend portions of the rear wall 2. Flap members 5 and 6 extend from thepanel members 3 and 4 respectively. If desired, and as shown, a pocketforming member I may be provided which extends from the outer end ofpanel 4 either as an integral extension thereof or as a separate piececemented to a marginal extension 8 as shown in Fig. l. Flaps 9 and H)extend from the ends of the rear wall member 2 adjacent panels 3 and 4respectively. As shown, panel 4 is provided with a window opening I Iwhich is covered with a sheet of transparent material [2, but the panelmay be variously treated or left plain as desired. The flap 6 isprovided with two tongue members I 3 and I4 separated by a cut I l whichextends into the body of the flap 6. Flap 5 is provided with similartongues I8 and I9 separated by cut 28. The flaps 5 and 6 are preferably.although not necessarily, provided with stifiening members 2| which maybe formed of paper or plastic sheet cemented to the inner face of theflaps.

The intermediate or bridging wall member 22, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4,comprises a flat piece of leather having a generally rectangular endportion 23, and an opposite end portion 24 which is cut away at 25 and26 to form an elongated narrow tongue '2? provided with a head 28.Prefeiably, the cuts 25 and 26 are so made as to position the tongue '2slightly above the longitudinal center of the Wall member. Portion 23 isprovided with a 'U-sha'ped cut 29 forming a downwardly extending tongue30 positioned at the upper outer corner of the portion 23.

The relation of the various elements in the completed billfold is shownin Figs. 3 and 4. The panels 3 and are folded onto the rear 'wall'withthe flaps 5 and 6 each folded downwardly between the panel to which itis secured and the rear wall. Member 7, if present, is folded inwardlyagainst the inner face of panel 4. The tabs 53 and [4 are cemented toflap Ill and the latter with the end portions of the tabs 13 and M isfolded freely inwardly between flap 6 and the panel 4. The end portionsof tabs I 8 and 59 are folded over on the face of panel 3 and cementedor otherwise secured thereto. Flap 9 is folded over onto the face ofpanel 3 and secured thereto in any suitable manner as by interlockingthe end portion of the flap in slits 3| as shown.

The bridging member 22 is positioned with its end portion 23 betweenpanel 3 and flap 5 and with its end portion 24 between panel 4 and flapE. The tongue 30 is inserted downwardly through a slit 32 formed in flap5. The slit 32 is so positioned as to permit some vertical play to thebridging member but to limit the extent of its downward movementsufficiently to prevent bending of the lower edge of the bridging memherin the fold at the bottom of the bill compartment. Enough material isremoved in forming the legs of the U shape out 29 and slit 32 is ofsufiicient length to afford a limited lon itudinal movement of thebridging member relative to the flap 5. The free flap H] is providedwith an arcuate slit 33 through which head 28 is inserted to interlockthe end portion 24 to the inturned free flap IE3. Slit 33 is of lengthto permit a rocking movement of the bridging member in the slit and topermit a limited vertical movement of tongue 2'! in the slit.

Preferably the upper edge of the rear wall is provided with a downturnedfinishing edge portion 34 and an upturned finishing portion 35 at thelower edge between the panels. When the finishing portion 35 is presentthe lower edge of the bridging member is cut away a at 36 to preventbinding of the lower edge.

As will be apparent, an open ended fiat tubular loop is formed betweenpanel 4, and the portion 24 of the bridging wall member 22.

As will be further apparent, in the construction as above described andas best illustrated in Fig. 4, the bridging member is connected at oneupper outer corner by the tab 30 engaged in slit 32 in the flap 5 Whilethe opposite end of wall 22 is connnected by tongue 21 and its head 28to the flap ID which is freely folded inwardly between flap 6 and panel4. The extension of the tab forming slots I1 and [9 into the body offlaps 6 and 5 respectively give a slight flexibility to the flaps 5 and6 relative to the members to which they are attached so that in additionto the freedom of movement afiorded the end portion 23 by tongue andslot connection 30-32 relative to the flap 5 the latter flap has asomewhat flexible connection to the panel. Similarly the tongue and slotconnection 2|-33 of the portion 24 of the bridging member to the freelyinturned flap l0 permits a rocking movement of the end of the bridgingmember as the portion 23 may rise or fall by vertical movement of thetongue 30 in the slit 32. When a pass case, not shown, is threadedbeneath the loop forming panel 4 the load carried by the pass case tendsto cause the pass case to tilt outwardly from the top of the loop andthe cutting away of the portion 24 at 26 tends to prevent binding of thebridging member when the pass case is loaded. The preferable position ofthe tongue 21 above the longitudinal center line of the billfold furtherassures freedom of movement of the bridging member.

The reenforcements 2|, when used, tend to confine the relative movementof the parts to the fold lines and prevent undesirable distortion of theflaps and panel members.

What I claim is:

In a billfold of the type having a rear wall and a front wall, thelatter including spaced panel members extending from the end portions ofthe lower edge of the rear wall, said panel members being foldedupwardly onto the rear wall and being provided at their upper edges withpanel flaps folded downwardly between the adjacent panel member and therear wall, end-flaps extending from each end edge of the rear wall, theend-flap at one end of the billfold being folded onto the outer face ofthe adjacent panel and secured thereto, the end-flap at the opposite endof the billfold being folded freely between the adjacent panel and thepanel flap carried thereby; a bridging member having its end portionsextending between the panel members and their respective panel flaps,that end of the bridging member adjacent the secured end-flap being provided adjacent its upper outer corner with a U- shaped cut forming adownwardly extending tongue, the adjacent panel flap being provided witha horizontal slit into which said tongue extends, that end of thebridging member adjacent the free end-flap being reduced in width toform a narrow headed tongue, the free end-flap being formed with atransverse slot in which the head of said tongue is interlocked.

DOUGLAS J. BROUGHTON.

No references cited.

